Tinubu says government refused ransom in Oriire abduction

President Bola Tinubu has said the Federal Government refused to pay ransom to the abductors involved in the Oriire school abduction in Oyo State.

Tinubu spoke at the State House in Abuja while receiving Oyo traditional rulers led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja. He praised the armed forces and the traditional institution for the rescue of the victims.

The President said the government chose intelligence and knowledge of the forest area over ransom payment. Vanguard quoted him as saying, “We refused to pay ransom. We have the geography of the forest. We know what it is.”

The comments came amid wider security attention on the Oyo school abduction. NaijaTrend earlier reported a related court development here.

Tinubu also said the Nigerian Army was being expanded from eight divisions to 12 to shorten response time. He again backed state police, saying local security gaps needed to be corrected with safeguards against abuse, and said forest guards would be strengthened to confront criminals hiding in forests.

Sources: Punch, Vanguard